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A Change of Heart: Uses of Qualitative Gerontology

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 November 2010

Warren Thorngate
Warren Thorngate
Affiliation:
Carleton University
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Abstract

Scientists produce much quantitative research hoping to improve people's decisions by changing their minds, that is by influencing their beliefs about what is true or false. However, research indicates that it is more important to change their hearts, that is to influence their values about what is important or trivial. Qualitative research changes hearts more effectively than does quantitative research because qualitative research tends to attract and to inspire larger audiences and because it can more easily communicate practical examples. Some possible uses of qualitative research for policy decisions in gerontology are discussed.

Résumé

Les scientifiques font de nombreuses recherches quantitatives dans l'espoir d'influencer l'esprit des gens, c'est-à-dire leur vision de ce qui est vrai ou faux, et d'obtenir ainsi qu'ils prennent de meilleures décisions. Toutefois, les recherches indiquent qu'il est plus important d'atteindre le coeur, c'est-à-dire les valeurs, leur vision de ce qui est important ou ne l'est pas. La recherche qualitative est plus efficace que la recherche pour influencer les valeurs des gens, parce qu'elle tend à attirer et à inspirer un public plus large et parce qu'elle peut communiquer des exemples pratiques plus aisément. Des applications possibles de la recherche qualitative pour des politiques en gérontologie sont examinées.

Keywords

Beliefs and ValuesPhilosophies of LifeQualitative ResearchGerontologyPolicy Decisions.Valeurs et croyancesphilosophies de la vierecherche qualitativedécisions de politique.
Type
Articles
Information
Canadian Journal on Aging / La Revue canadienne du vieillissement , Volume 12 , Issue 2: Qualitative Methods/Les méthodes qualitatives , Été/Summer 1993 , pp. 244 - 250
Copyright
Copyright © Canadian Association on Gerontology 1993

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